The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-07
Departments of War and Justice.
Buildings, FortiAcations in Need Of
Repair and Construction.
The Poor Armament on the Coasts
and Northern Frontier.
Revision of the Articles of War
Strongly Recommended.
Attorney General Garland's Report,
Giving n Full Account of the
Business OF His Department
During the Fiscal Year.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 6.-The annual re-
port OF the Secretary Of War, transmitted
To Congress today, shows that the expend-
iturs made 10y the department during the
last fiscal year amounted 10 81 3s0, 1875.
The estimates for the next fiscal year aggre-
gate S3,3jS,7l0, against an appropriation
Tor the current year of S3l ,055, 3O2. Tho
increase is caused by the incorporation Of
an estimate Of so $50, l5l for public works,
including rivcrsnd harbor improvements,
the expenditures ON this account for tho
current year amounting TO only - sos, 100.
There il also an increase OF about - ,jOO,-
900 in the estimate for the military esiab-
lishmcnt and the army and military
academy. The Secretary says
"Thc estimates ior salaries and cOntin-
gent expenses Tor the fiscal year ending
June 20, 1852 arr considerable less than
the appropriation for the current year.
The estimates Tor the military cstablish-
mcnt are based upon the actual require
mcnts Of the service. During recent Years
the appropriation for transportation Of tho
army has been inadequate to meet the cost
Of transporting the army, and the failure
10 appropriate funds for that service has
caused much embarrassment aud greatly
increased the labor in settling such nc.
counts. The ESTIMATES ior improving rivers
and harbors represent the probable cost 81
such improvements, II approved by Con-
grcss."
The report Nys that the buildings. iorti-
tlcations, public works aud grounds in tho
division ut the Auantlc are everywhere in
need OF repair and reconstruction. On
the entire Atlantic and Gulf coast line OF
$50 miles. and the northern frontier Of
100 miles the sole armament IL ~ rifed
guns, oi which ll6 ap obsolete aud Of
very low power Even the few scryiccablo
rifcd guns that are mounted nrc oi httlo
value. SOME ui them are mounted On old
Carriages, and all are without adequate
| protection.
The Secriary refers 10 Gen. Schuiicld's
Recommendation that NJ least eighth
inch muNzle-lotding gun with appliances
ior target prlclicc. and one or mop' II tho
new bccch.luadng guns and murinrs be
furnished 10 each artillery posi- with 4 view
Ia improvement oi the artillery in,irnc-
ton. lie says. however that the depart
mcnt Is unable to comply with the re-
quest. ~ W. have no guns suitable for
such target practice aud Technical inStruc-
ton. Thi- division i garfisuncd mainly
10y artillery, lpuf.iths OF the oiicrri and
men ot that arm being stationed within its
limits. I'm me- branch oi the service IL
technical instruction and daily expert
mcnis aud practice In the usc ul its
weapons mon demanded thun in the ariil-
lcry. ], j. carpc~tly hoped that II guns
can not hc had Qualifications appropriations
cnn be- nude lor tlicpuplasc.or manuiact-
urc IT enough guns 10 employ the artillery
and M them lor any emergency.
Touching Geronimo and his fellow cap
tiyc- now confined NJ Font ricirns and
Noun Vernon barracks, the fupori says
that they nrr cuntpntpl, perform their
work with allrrity and thus iar thcir con-
duet has hc'n excellent At this time it
i- q difficult matter a. find for them per-
mnncnt home. iur many reasons ID Is i'm.
possible a. ptum them Ia Arizona; under
existing laws they cannot bc taken 10 the
Indian Territory, and In the northern
reservations the climate IL too cold for
them. Pending iind decision. they can
remain where they arr, In comfort aud
safety
IN the division 81 the Missouri. during
the pat year. u las been necessary 10
patrol the oklahoma country, iu the In
dian Territory ~ keep out intrudcrs aud
a. protect the Indian reservations. A con
siderable body oi troops has been con-
Hauily engaged in this duty and there
have hcpi M serious disturbances
\ brief history h included In the report
NJ the difficulty that nrosc In August last
In Colorado between the State authorities
aud CuoruW.s baud oi Utcs, and il II said
that some ulIuil should certainly be- made
Tor the restitution OF their property to tho
Indians
The SccrNary strongly approves Of the
rrCummcniaAuu contained Ia Gcn. Sheri-
dams IMPORT touching the extension Of all
possible aid 10y the general government 10
the national guard oi the different states,
and suggesting a system OF national en-
Campmcnts Tor state militia, at the entire
expense OF the national government.
Attention j. called 10 tho fact that tho
Pacific coast il destitute OF publications,
guns aud armament Of every description,
while san Francisco II without a single
gun which can b. fired with safety with
present changes OF powder and modern
prujcCtilcs.
luAnlublN ENDORSEMENT ~ also gwen 10
the acknowledgement recommendation
that the present strength Of the army DO
increased by 5000 men; and particular at
tcntipn Is called 10 the importance Of an
increase Of the artillery arm Of the service
aud certain changes in the present organ
iMtiou Of artillery regiments.
The schools Of instruction, the Secretary
says, afford admirable post graduate courses
Oi study, and II will bc necessary, as IL 10
desirable, that every officer should take
ms tour Of study, IN order that he may DO
fully equipped Tor his duty lie trusts that
the bill introduced In the Senate at tho
last session, requiring the examination Of
officers for promotion, may be passed by
Congress.
lie thinks that the permanently disabled
officers should be at once retired, and
hopes that Congress viii authorize suf-
fcicnt increase OF the retired list to accom-
plish the purpose. An illustrated caia-
logue of the army medical museum, he
snys, would bc OF great value TO science.
A large portion Of IL is already prepared,
and authority from Congress 10 publish It
Is earnestly requested. A larger appropn-
alton for binding Is urgently required
The Secretary suggests that the number VI